Should You Upgrade to Windows 10?

Windows 10 final release is due in just a couple of hours and there’s a big question that many Windows and especially Windows 7 users who are eligible for the free Windows 10 upgrade are asking; should I make this leap of faith and upgrade to Windows 10?

There is no silver bullet answer to that question, so let’s break things to its basic and try to answer that question. First, let’s look at the benefits you’ll get from upgrading Windows 7 to Windows 10.

Windows 10 is Free

Microsoft has made the upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 a free upgrade for the first year which is the first time for Microsoft. It’s free for one year, so you don’t have to make an instant jump, you can wait for a couple of weeks or even months and read the reviews then make a decision if you make the jump or not.

It’s worth noting that one day Microsoft will stop supporting Windows 7 and you’ll have to make the jump whether you like it or not, so it’s better to dip your toe in the water and have a taste of the new operating system sooner rather than later.

Cortana

Cortana is Microsoft’s answer to Google Now and Apple’s Siri. Cortana is deeply integrated into Windows 10. You can dictate notes and reminders, set Calendar meetings / appointments, read email and text messages, ask Cortana questions, open files and apps locally as well as on OneDrive. With Cortana is integrated to the new Microsoft Edge browser, you can perform searches.

New Browser

Windows 10 comes with a brand new internet browser named MIcrosoft Edge that we’ve covered thoroughly in other articles. To give you a quick overview about the new browser let me tell you that it complies with the modern web standards and it allows users to annotate web page and share them. Cortana is also integrated in Microsoft Edge. Finally, the default windows browser will allow developers to develop extensions and add-ons.

Continuity

Continuity allows the users to start on a device such as PC / laptop, mobile phones, tablet, HoloLens and Xbox and continue what they were doing on another device. You can start writing a document on your phone and then continue it on your PC when you return to work or at home. This is true not only for documents but also for Skype phone calls and that’s huge for users who are deeply invested in the Microsoft ecosystem.

Robust

Some might wonder what I mean by robust. Wasn’t Windows 7 robust; well, it was to some extent. Windows 10 comes with an integrated security solution so you don’t have to pay and download one. It also has a far better copying engine. You can pause copying and prioritize them accordingly.

Gaming

Windows 10 comes with two main perks for gamers, first is of course DirectX 12 which we shall discuss in other articles here so stay tuned. The other perk is XBox integration which allows Windows 10 users to stream games directly from their Xbox to their Windows 10 PC or laptop. This means you can play using the controller as well as your keyboard with its cherry MX switches and mouse.

Conclusion

Windows 10 is a worthy upgrade to Windows 7 users as we’ve seen above. Are you going to make the leap of faith and updpate to Windows 10?